Spacer-connector for flat dry cells



1949- L. J. LQCKWOOD ETAL 2,478,632

SPACER-CONNECTOR FOR FLAT DRY CELLS Filed April 17, 1947 IN V EN TORS ee J2, atl'u/aod BY M27910 T60 290]! Patented Aug. 9,1949 i g I UNITED s'ra'rss PATENT cmce SPACER-CONNECTOR FOR FLAT DRY CELLS Lee J. Lockwood, Freeport, 111., and Vernon F. Gongoll, Madison, Wis., assignors to Ray- Vac Company, a corporation of Wisconsin Application April 17, 1947, Serial No. 742,136

Claims. (Cl. 136-111.) 2 This invention relates to dry-cells, and more or the like. As best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, one particularly to an improved spacer for insertion leg I5 is clinched against the sheet which it imbetween stacked dry-cells, to prevent short cirpales, and the other leg l6, although bent in cuits between the cells, and to provide a reliable the same direction, is inclined upwardly and series connection. 5 forms a. resilient contact to engage the bottom The primary object of the present invention of the superposed cell. Thus, it will be underis to provide a sheet of thin dielectric material stood that when the spacers are inserted between which will serve to prevent electrical'connection the dry-cells, as shown in Eigs. 1 and 2, the cans between the outer walls of stacked dry-cells with will be insulated from each other, and the cona yielding centrally disposed electrical connector nectors M will prov e yielding connections beto make a series connection between the cells. tween the centrally disposed carbon pole and the The invention is illustrated in a preferred bottom of the adjacent superposed dry-cell.

embodiment in the accompanying drawings in In the embodiment shown in Fig. 6, a dielectric whichsheet I1 is provided with a central aperture I 8.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of 16 In this form, a separate disc-like metal cona stack of dry-cells employing the improved nector l9- is provided to fit in the aperture I8. spacer; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the stack A leg 0 s struck pw rdly from the disc, and shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan sectional view, forms a resilient electrical connection between taken as indicated at line H of Fig. 1;' Fig. he carbon pole of one cell and the bottom of 4 is a sectional view of one or the spacers, taken v h zinc can f th a j n c llas indicated at line 4-4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a he f r oin detail d description is iven for plan view of a modified form of dielectric sheet; clearness of understanding only, and no unneces- Fig. 6 is a plan view of the metal connecting a y i ns o ld be unde s ood he ef om. -member for use with the sheet shown in Fig, for some modifications will be obvious to those 5; and Fig. 7 is a sectional view, taken as indiskilled in the art. p cated at line 1-'| of Fig. 6. We claim:

In the embodiment illustrated, a plurality of 1. A spacer for use ina battery unit which dry-cells are shown arranged in superposed relacomprises a plurality of superimposed, stacked, tion in Figs. '1 and 2, and connected in series. dry cells wherein the container for each cell con- Each of the dry-cells has a rather shallow zinc 3o s i u e one of the cell terminals and a substancan 8, whose bottom wall 9 serves as one terminal tially centrally-disposed l ctrod o tit t t for the cell. A small centrally disposed carbon other of the cell terminals, said spacer compris- .pole I0 serves as the opposite terminal of the ing a sheet 01' thin dielectric material at least cell, and a dielectric cover member ll, having a co-extenslve with and separating the juxtaposed central aperture for the pole I 0, is held in posisurfaces of said two cells and a metal connector tion by the inwardly turned top edge portions extending through and on both sides of said sheet, of the can 8, as indicated at l2. said connector having a resilient arm adapted It will be understood that 1! cells of the type to make a yielding, contact with one of said terdescribed are placed in a stacked relation to minals. form a battery, the inturned margins 12 must be 40 2. A spacer for use in a be electrically insulated from the metal bottom of comprises a plurality of superi l r l gse c if gtaz l g e? the superposed cell to prevent the bottom of the dry cells wherein the container for each cell superposed cell acting as an electrical conductor constitutes one of the cell terminals and a subfrom the inturned margin I! to the carbon pole stantially centrally-disposed ele t od t t t In of the same cell. To accomplish a desired '45 the other of the cell terminals, said spacer comseries connection and prevent the metal bottoms prising a sheet of thin dielectric material at least sheet of dielectric material ll, which may be in provided with a pair of arms each of which imthe form of a woven fabric (or a paper) impales said sheet and one of which is resilient and pregnated with a synthetic resin, is provided. adapted to make a yielding contact with one of The sheet is large enough to project slightly said terminals.

beyond the outer edges 01' the cans 8, and it is 3. A spacer for use in a battery unit which provided at its central portion with a metal comprises a plurality of superimposed, stacked,

staple I, which may be formed of copper, brass, dry cells wherein the container for each cell constitutes one or the cell terminals. and a subcomprises a plurality of superimposed, stacked. stantially centrally-disposed electrode constitutes dry cells wherein the container for each cell the other of the cell terminals, said spacer comconstitutes one of the cell terminals and a subprising a sheet of thin dielectric material at least stantialiy centrally-disposed electrode constitutes co-extenslve with and separating the juxtaposed 5 the other of the cell terminals said spacer comsuriaces of said two cells and a metal connector prisin a sheet of thi substan a y s l u a nprovided with a pair or arms both of which iminc, n nndu tin fibrous material at least c pale said sheet and one of which is clinched extensive with and sep r ing the jux p against said sheet for anchorage, faces of said two cells and a metal connector ex- A p c r 1 111 in a battery unit which 10 tending through both sides of said sheet, said comprises a plurality of superimposed, stack d, connector having a resilient arm adapted to make dry cells wherein the co tai er for a an a yielding contact with one of said terminals.

constitutes one of the cell terminals and a sub- LEE LOCKWOOD- stantially centrally-disposed electrode constitutes VERNON GONGOLL- the other of the cell terminals, said spacer com- 15 prising a sheet of thin dielectric material at least REFERENCES CITED corextensive with and separating the juxtaposed The following references are of record in the surfaces of said two cells and a metal connector m of this patent: provided with a pair of arms both of which impale said sheet, one of said arms being clinched 20 UNITED STATES PATENTS against said sheet for anchorage, the other of said Number Name Date arms being resilient and adapted to make a yield- 1,609,799 Douglas Dec. '7, 1926 ing contact with One of said terminals. 2,307,766 Deibel Jan. 12, 1943 5. A spacer for use in a battery unit which 

